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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I hovered over 4 stars for the longest time and then finally landed on 3 for a few reasons...
I really did enjoy this book, but i couldn't help but feel that the plot was rushed. Some important points were glossed over and never mentioned again which really irked me. For example, Leah basically implying that Abby isn't bi enough and completely shuts down her coming out. Not cool. But it was never mentioned again even though I felt like that was a huge moment in both character development personally and with their relationship.
I was also not too fond of the ending. No one's issues or entire personality shifts just because they are in a relationship. Leah isn't suddenly cured of her cynicism and depressed episodes just because Abby is in the picture now. Additionally, how are we just going to pretend that everything is great and happy and wonderful at the end and that no consequences happen? I'm all for following your own path and doing what is right for you, but the ending just really perturbed me because hell yes we should be concerned with Nick and Garrett. It DOES affect them. Every choice we make affects other people, and Leah's ability to understand that is what makes her such a worthwhile character to read about. Unfortunately she abandons that part of her at the end, and it kind of disappointed me.
Overall, this was a fun read and I appreciate that we received some bi representation.
I really did enjoy this book, but i couldn't help but feel that the plot was rushed. Some important points were glossed over and never mentioned again which really irked me. For example, Leah basically implying that Abby isn't bi enough and completely shuts down her coming out. Not cool. But it was never mentioned again even though I felt like that was a huge moment in both character development personally and with their relationship.
I was also not too fond of the ending. No one's issues or entire personality shifts just because they are in a relationship. Leah isn't suddenly cured of her cynicism and depressed episodes just because Abby is in the picture now. Additionally, how are we just going to pretend that everything is great and happy and wonderful at the end and that no consequences happen? I'm all for following your own path and doing what is right for you, but the ending just really perturbed me because hell yes we should be concerned with Nick and Garrett. It DOES affect them. Every choice we make affects other people, and Leah's ability to understand that is what makes her such a worthwhile character to read about. Unfortunately she abandons that part of her at the end, and it kind of disappointed me.
Overall, this was a fun read and I appreciate that we received some bi representation.
Amazing!
This book was so good! I Love LOVE love Leah and how she looks at life and she and Abby are just too adorable and I was rooting for them the entire way. Such a great, satisfying ending.
This book was so good! I Love LOVE love Leah and how she looks at life and she and Abby are just too adorable and I was rooting for them the entire way. Such a great, satisfying ending.
1.5 stars
Leah on the Offbeat is a story with no plot and an insufferable main character.
Leah, the main character, is a flawed character. I could somewhat relate to her in that she was a very passive person and also self-sabotagingly stubborn. Which would have been fine, if her list of flaws ended there. But nope that word was soooo overused, she had a huuuuge inferiority complex, was hostile to everyone for no reason at all (like her mom, who was a very sweet person), didn't care for her friends , excluded herself but whined a whole damn lot.
Apart from that her reaction to a character being vulnerable and telling her that the person came out to her parents as bisexual - a situation that Leah should very well understand - was gate-keeping bisexuality and shouting until the other character actually cried, she also lead on one guy in her friend group and used him to feel better. But that was supposed to be overlooked because of the cookie cutter ending where
In addition to that, Leah was very self-righteous, because despite her flaws, everyone else has to be perfect, right? What Morgan did wasn't ok, but she tries to be an ally, apologized to, felt obviously bad about it and learned a lesson, and Leah was still not ready to forgive her?
Also, she was a music snob which gets on my nerves very quickly. It's so unsympathetic, just let everyone enjoy whatever they want! No need to be a gatekeeper. But oh right, we already established that Leah likes to gatekeep. And I don't know what it is about YA contemporary authors and their insistance to give their character only the personality traits of 1) being a snob about music and 2) loving Harry Potter, but it's unoriginal and annoying.
All of that wouldn't even have been that much of a problem if Leah had developed and matured, of if she'd had even a hint of self-awareness or introspection. But nope, she was the same unlikable person throughout the entire book, she didn't develop, nothing happens story-wise which begs the question of: what's the point?
At least the diversity was nice, as was thepoorly excuted body positivity. The half star is for the audiobook though, Shannon Purser was the perfect fit for Leah and nailed her snarky voice. She managed to give Leah some personality, without her I would have easily DNF'd it at the 20% mark (and I don't mean that in a backhanded-compliment kind of way, she genuinely did a great job!)
Leah on the Offbeat is a story with no plot and an insufferable main character.
Leah, the main character, is a flawed character. I could somewhat relate to her in that she was a very passive person and also self-sabotagingly stubborn. Which would have been fine, if her list of flaws ended there. But nope
Spoiler
Nick was supposed to be her best friend, but that was only ever told and never shown!Apart from that her reaction to a character being vulnerable and telling her that the person came out to her parents as bisexual - a situation that Leah should very well understand - was gate-keeping bisexuality and shouting until the other character actually cried, she also lead on one guy in her friend group and used him to feel better. But that was supposed to be overlooked because of the cookie cutter ending where
Spoiler
everyone is happy because they all end up with someone! Yay!In addition to that, Leah was very self-righteous, because despite her flaws, everyone else has to be perfect, right? What Morgan did wasn't ok, but she tries to be an ally, apologized to
Spoiler
AbbyAlso, she was a music snob which gets on my nerves very quickly. It's so unsympathetic, just let everyone enjoy whatever they want! No need to be a gatekeeper. But oh right, we already established that Leah likes to gatekeep. And I don't know what it is about YA contemporary authors and their insistance to give their character only the personality traits of 1) being a snob about music and 2) loving Harry Potter, but it's unoriginal and annoying.
All of that wouldn't even have been that much of a problem if Leah had developed and matured, of if she'd had even a hint of self-awareness or introspection. But nope, she was the same unlikable person throughout the entire book, she didn't develop, nothing happens story-wise which begs the question of: what's the point?
At least the diversity was nice, as was the
Freaking perfect. Just totally nailed the awkward high school awkwardness and drama. I loved this book. Binge read it in on sitting.
hmmm.. i’m still debating whether to give it 2 or 3 stars
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LOOK LOOK LOOOOOOOOOK WE'VE GOT A COVER AND IT'S SO PRETTY
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LOOK LOOK LOOOOOOOOOK WE'VE GOT A COVER AND IT'S SO PRETTY
I really liked it, mostly, and then I sort of hated it, and then I came back to mostly liking it. I dunno. Hos before bros, and all that.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
That was so freaking beautiful, thank you Becky Albertalli for leaving me this huge smile on my face right now.
Leah is so cute and she deserves the world and I loved everything about it, I'm so happy right now❤️
Leah is so cute and she deserves the world and I loved everything about it, I'm so happy right now❤️